Pressure grows over Germany’s pro-migrant policy as Angela Merkel is blamed for the Berlin truck massacre
German Chancellor comes under fire from a wave of opponents in wake of latest atrocity
OPPONENTS of German Chancellor Angela Merkel accused her of having “blood on her hands” in the wake of the Berlin truck attack.
Her open-door migration policy, which has seen nearly a million refugees enter since the start of the crisis, came under renewed pressure.
Police investigating Monday night’s Christmas market atrocity arrested a 23-year-old Pakistani national who arrived in Germany last New Year’s Eve.
It was later announced he was the “wrong man” — but Mrs Merkel’s pro-migrant government were still blamed.
Marcus Pretzell, chairman of the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany tweeted: “When will the German legal state strike back? When will this damned hypocrisy finally stop? These are Merkel’s dead!”
Dutch right-wing extremist Geert Wilders tweeted a picture of Mrs Merkel with bloodied hands.
Ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage also blamed the German leader — sparking an online feud with the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox.
Mr Farage tweeted: “Terrible news from Berlin but no surprise. Events like these will be the Merkel legacy.”
Brendan Cox, whose wife was killed in June by neo-Nazi Thomas Mair, hit back: “Blaming politicians for the actions of extremists? That’s a slippery slope Nigel.”
Mrs Merkel yesterday laid a wreath on the blood-splattered pavement at the Christmas market.
She declared it would be “repugnant” if the terrorist was confirmed as an asylum-seeker.
She said at a press conference: “We don’t have anything for certain, but we must assume it was a terrorist attack.
“It would be very difficult for us to learn that a human being committed this deed, who came to Germany to ask for refuge and asylum.
“It would be terrible for all of the Germans who are very active day by day in helping asylum seekers and refugees.
“It would be repugnant for those that are helping people that have come to this country and are asking for our help. We do not allow ourselves to be paralysed by terror.
“Although this might be difficult in these hours, we will find a strength to continue living life as we want to live it in Germany, in freedom and openness and together.”
The arrested Pakistani suspect — known locally only as Naved B — had denied any involvement in the attack.
He was later released without charge but it failed to ease the pressure on Mrs Merkel, who faces a tough battle to secure a fourth term in office next year.
She has recently shifted her migrant policy to the right, suggesting stemming the number entering Germany and restricting the use of veils.
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But her CDU party has been racked by in-fighting and endured a string of poor local election results, despite a sharp drop in migrant numbers this year.
Mrs Merkel did receive support from world leaders, including US President Barack Obama who offered her “assistance and condolences”.
A White House spokesman said: “He underscored that no attack could sway our determination — and that of our German allies — to defeat terrorism in all of its forms.”
PM Theresa May also offered condolences over the shocking events which had “shocked us all”.
Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump promised to wipe all Islamist terrorists “from the face of the earth” with the help of “freedom-loving partners”.
Mrs Merkel and Berlin mayor Michael Mueller also attended a service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by the market.
They laid white roses outside the church, still badly damaged from World War Two and seen as a symbol of war’s destructive power.
Is Britain prepared for an attack?
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